Vendor Requirements

In order to supply raw material or render services within the CAEI, it is essential for vendors to be duly registered in the General Tax Department (*in Spanish Dirección General de Impuestos Internos– DGII) and up to date in their tax payments.

It is also mandatory to comply with the Dominican Republic Labor Law, as well as to observe and respect our Code of Conduct, our Human Rights Policy and the Safety Regulations established within our operation.

In the specific case of all sugar cane farmers, CAEI edited and delivered to these vendors a handbook which describes and guidelines to be taken into account, in order to maintain a business relationship with this company.

Services Available in our Facilities

CAEI develops an assistance program in favor of sugar cane producers, through which they receive, at no financial cost, products and services which aid them in improving their productivity.

Producers receive fertilizers, herbicides and seeds, they also benefit with technical assistance and services in land harrowing, asides cutting, hoisting and transporting the sugar cane at market rates.

Also, the producers are benefiting with technology transfers in soil management, irrigation, drainage and field design, which the consortium is currently working on with the help of agricultural experts.

Code of Conduct for Sugar Cane Suppliers

CAEI is committed to ensuring that all labor conditions within its chain of suppliers be safe and at all workers be treated with respect and dignity. Likewise, we expect for all vendor operations concerning raw material for milling purposes, be carried out in an ethic and integrated manner.

This Code of Conduct remarks operational requirements which serve as guidelines to advance in complying with the social responsibility to set the groundwork in compliance matters that CAEI has established and requires from its cane suppliers.

Our suppliers must take reasonable measures to ensure that their sugar cane cultivation and harvest operations act accordingly with this Code of Conduct

Compliance with Applicable Laws and Regulations

We expect for all our sugar cane suppliers to act in compliance with the laws, regulations and norms of the Dominican Republic.

Human and Labor Rights

Respect and Dignity

Sugar cane providers must maintain a firm posture to preserve the rights of workers, treating them with respect and dignity. All necessary measures must be taken in order to promote a work environment that is harassment free, as well as free of ill treatment, violent threats and any form of physical coactions.

Banning Involuntary Work

The CAEI suppliers must make sure that within their operations neither human trafficking nor forced labor practices exist, including debt collection through labor. So any form of labor carried out by a worker in involuntary manner, or under threat of physical damage or any other penalty, be it physical, emotional, financial or moral, is prohibited.

Banning Child Labor

All CAEI sugar cane suppliers are banned from using underage children and adolescents within their field operations.

Work Schedule

CAEI sugar cane suppliers must abide by all provisions stipulated in the Labor Code, Law 16-92, with respects to the maximum number of work hours per shift, vacation, mandatory leave and holidays. The sugar cane supplier workers shall not work beyond the maximum amount of hours permitted by labor laws.

Compensation & Benefits

Sugar cane suppliers will need to provide just compensation, as well as all benefits contemplated in the Labor Code.

Freedom of Association

CAEI requires for all its sugar cane suppliers to acknowledge and respect the rights of workers to associate or not, organize or not and to negotiate collectively or not, in accordance to the Law. Hence, it expects that all workers association to any legally constituted guild shall be respected. No discrimination at work for guild association, or lack thereof, on behalf of a worker.

No Discrimination

All labor conditions must be based on the ability of a worker or employee to perform the tasks they are being hired for. CAEI prohibits differences in labor conditions based on skin color, race, religious beliefs, gender, nationality or marital status, as is contemplated in the Constitution of the Dominican Republic.

Safety, Health & Environmental Hygiene

Health and Safety in the Work Environment

Sugar cane providers must provide a safe and healthy work environment, featuring safety procedures which minimize lost time incidents, and industrial accidents, the proper use of PPEs (Personal Protection Equipment) and training to all field workers. It is especially important to take preventive measures regarding the use of hazardous substances and materials.

Housing Facilities

Sugar cane suppliers must accommodate their workers in housing units of with proper conditions and access to potable water.

Environmental Protection

CAEI expects all its suppliers to act in an environmentally responsible manner. They will need, for starters, to comply with all laws and regulations applied by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources of the Dominican Republic.

Ethic Management

CAEI will not tolerate participation in any form of corruption, bribery, extortion and/or embezzlement.

Monitoring & Documentation

The CAEI suppliers will need to maintain records of all the operations which make evident their due compliance with the Sugar Cane Vendor Code of Ethics. CAEI reserves the right to issue inspections and audit procedures that will allow certifying due compliance with this Code of Conduct for all Sugar Cane Suppliers.